Why Eric Decker (hamstring) thinks next couple of days will be 'a telling sign' for if he plays vs. Bears

[Apache 51]

FLORHAM PARK – Though Jets wide receiver Eric Decker did not practice Wednesday, because he tweaked his hamstring in Sunday’s loss at Green Bay, he said it was “a good sign” that he was able to do some jogging in the rehab area of the practice field, under the supervision of trainers.

Moreover, Jets coach Rex Ryan sounded optimistic that both Decker and cornerback Dee Milliner will play Monday night against the Bears. Milliner also did not practice Wednesday, as he continues to recover from a high left ankle sprain – an injury he aggravated a bit while making his season debut against the Packers.

“Both those guys, we’ll see how they progress,” Ryan said. “We’re confident that they’ll be ready. We know they’re going to work to get out there. We’ll see how it goes during the week. But I should say I guess I’m hopeful that they’ll play.”

Ryan said he feels hopeful because of feedback he is receiving about Decker and Milliner from his training staff.

“They seem to be feeling pretty confident that these guys can get better,” Ryan said. “They’re already getting better since Sunday.”

For Decker, the next couple of days will be important, as he determines if he is healthy enough to play Monday.

That’s because, on Wednesdays, “you’re still sore from the game, regardless of injury or not,” he said. So it was hard for him to gauge, during his jogging exercises Wednesday, what pain stemmed from his hamstring tweak, and what was just normal postgame aches.

“That’s why every day from here on out is going to really be a telling sign for me,” Decker said, adding that his hamstring “feels better than (Tuesday).”

Decker’s injury is to his right hamstring – the same hamstring that bothered him during training camp. He said he did not tear his hamstring Sunday, and did not even undergo an MRI examination.

“There’s no tear,” Decker said. “I would characterize it as I aggravated it. Obviously, I did it in training camp and it didn’t fully go away.”

Decker said he was sore before Sunday, but indicated he felt no pain that was out of the ordinary.

“Every guy in this locker room will tell you they’re sore,” Decker said. “Everyone plays through injuries. Everyone plays through soreness.”

Decker said he has experienced some hamstring tightness in the past, but not a hamstring injury to this degree.

“My mentality is to take it one day at a time,” he said of his recovery. “I would love to play (Monday), so (I) am just making sure that we take the right steps. Don’t do too much, but do enough to feel it out and make a decision once that day rolls around.

“I just have to do a better job of listening to my body. With hamstrings, (I) have to make sure my gluts are good, my quads are good, everything around the hamstring muscle is good to go. That’s on me as far as listening to my body and doing the correct things. Unfortunately, this stuff happens, but there are things now that I can do to make sure that I don’t allow it to happen again.”

Decker said he could not provide a timeline, at this point, for when he will feel more certain about his status for Monday. 

“I can just tell you that right now, every day, I am going to try and do a little bit more and see how it feels, and keep at it, whether it’s a strengthening program, or a stretching program, whatever they have for me, and we are going to be smart with it,” he said. “But I want to get out (on the field) as soon as I can for my teammates, so I am going to obviously make a smart choice, but try to get out there.”

Decker is the Jets’ top receiving target. Without him, quarterback Geno Smith would have the same primary receivers he was left with last season, when Santonio Holmes missed five games with a hamstring injury – Jeremy Kerley and David Nelson.

If Decker is out Monday, Smith said, “Just got to go in with the mindset that we’re still going to do the same things. We’re pretty confident. I’m confident in the other guys around him. Every single guy has an opportunity to step up. Eric’s a key part to our offense. But we’ve got other guys who can step up and make plays for us. I look forward to seeing them do so.”

   - Darrly Slater

[BroadwayJoe12]

Other injuries I'm usually cool with people gutting it out, but these f*ckers are nasty and really linger. He's probably gonna be dealing with thigh soreness for the majority of the season, but I'd just assume hold him out for this as opposed to aggravating it and missing the next three or more.

[PatsFanTX]

What play did he get hurt on?

[Larz]

if they don't practice wednesday, they should sit unless it's december or PO's

[joewilly12]

Whats Braylon Edwards up to these days we definitely need a WR capable of stepping up to be the #1 while our #1 might be injured.

[Greenseed4]

What play did he get hurt on?

 

The one where he grabs his right hamstring, then walk/jogged to the sideline. 

[slats]

Whats Braylon Edwards up to these days we definitely need a WR capable of stepping up to be the #1 while our #1 might be injured.

Whatever it is, I'm sure he's ready to step right in and be a #1 WR this week.

[joewilly12]

Whatever it is, I'm sure he's ready to step right in and be a #1 WR this week.

Nelson Salas don't seem to be doing much why not?

[BroadwayJoe12]

Whats Braylon Edwards up to these days we definitely need a WR capable of stepping up to be the #1 while our #1 might be injured.

 

Yes! Possession burner FTW!